Iowa Lakes Community College Celebrates Arbor Day with Area High Schools

May 7, 2014

Arbor Day was celebrated with several area high school FFA students recently with the planting of a tree in cooperation with the Landscape & Turfgrass Technology program at Iowa Lakes.

Kevin Fehr, the instructor of the Landscape & Turfgrass Technology program, delivered trees to local schools to help celebrate the 142nd annual Arbor Day, which took place on April 25.

Fehr delivered three different kinds of trees and also talked about the importance of planting a variety of trees. He also discussed the need for planting trees and the benefits trees provide. At each the schools the students planted a tree while Fehr demonstrated the correct depth for planting and talked about providing continued care for newly planted trees.

Fehr also informed students about the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) which is an insect that has been found in Iowa which attacks Ash trees.

On Wednesday, April 23, Fehr traveled to North Union-Armstrong to plant a Bur Oak with the Horticulture class taught by Agriculture instructor, Jon Wimmer.

Also that day, Fehr traveled to the Clay Central Everly school where he met with high school agriculture students and second grade PALS, a program that pairs high school with second graders as mentors. They planted an Autumn Blaze Maple tree with instructor Betsy Schoelerman.

On Thursday, April 24, Fehr planted a Red Point Maple at the Harris Lake Park elementary school with the high school Horticulture class, taught by Randy Nicks.

Also that day, Fehr traveled to West Bend/Mallard where he met with Agronomy students and instructor, Anita Fisher. They planted a Bur Oak tree on the school grounds.

On Friday, April 25, he planted a Redpointe Maple with the Algona Horticulture classes with instructor Kristy Legler.

Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April. For more information on Iowa Lakes, please visit www.iowalakes.edu.